Find out what’s in stock nearby.
Ever go to pick up something at a store and they’re out. No problem, just go to another store or another location of the same chain. But they don’t have it either. Annoying.
Google wants to help you save time (and frustration) by showing you what’s in stock where.
While you’re out, simply go to google.com on your mobile phone. Click the “More” tab and select “Shopping.” Do your search thang.
A list of results will come up – look for a blue dot with either “In stocky nearby” or “Limited availability.” Click the link and find out which store has what you’re looking for.
A top mobile service harnesses its strengths to compete in the mobile ad space.
WHERE is a mobile application (both downloadable and mobile web) that focuses on local search and recommendations. This week, WHERE is launching a local/mobile ad network.
WHERE’s goal is to generate relevant ads based on location and context.
“We built WHERE Ads because we wanted to deliver a better advertising experience to our audience.” said Walt Doyle, CEO of WHERE. “Leveraging our unique access to the carrier infrastructure, we are able to deliver hyper-local, contextually relevant content. The result is that we are driving benefit by connecting the consumer and the local merchant. We’re now excited to begin offering this solution to third party publishers.”
Handwrite your way to faster search.
If we’re going to be honest, no one completely loves the process of typing search queries (or typing much of anything) onto a mobile device. The search engines know it – that’s why they include query suggestion features on their mobile apps.
There are also voice search features, barcode scanning apps and experiments with like-image search. Now you can add another nifty search feature to the lineup: gesture search.
Google has introduced the feature as a Labs product for Android. To use the search, you write a letter across the screen. Gestures search will then begin bringing up contacts, apps, bookmarks and music that begin with the letter.
Expansion of feature allows national phone numbers irregardless of user location.
When AdWords brought Click-to-Call to mobile ads a month ago, the idea was to enable local businesses to reach searchers on-the-go. Now, the feature is being extended to national advertisers who wish to use a primary number.
For example, let’s say you’re searching for a car rental and an ad from a national chain pops up in your mobile search. Perhaps they want to funnel all calls through a single number. Now, they can do so with Click-to-Call mobile ads in AdWords.
The popular real estate app gets a robust update with improved search and social sharing features.
Real estate search engine Zillow has refreshed their mobile application for the iPhone. A new sign in feature lets you sync findings and favorites from your iPhone with your Zillow.com account for easier access when you return to your laptop or desktop.
You can also share search results from the iPhone app with your social network. So, when you’re out house shopping, you can constantly let your Facebook and Twitter friends know every single house you’re looking at. That way they can know when to make surprise visits after the big move.
Use the phone’s camera to get product information.
The new app is appropriately named “Shopper.” Take a picture of the item you’re interested in (with your phone’s camera, of course) and Shopper will bring up product info for you.
So far, the app recognizes most CDs, DVDs, video games and book cover art. It can also recognize most barcodes.
The app also includes a Voice search feature in case you’re curious about something you can’t immediately take a picture of.
You can star items that will be collected into a shopping list for you.
Phones are due out by the 2010 holiday season.
It’s called the Windows Phone 7 series and, despite the name, it’s nothing like Windows. Sure, there’s mobile versions of Office, Outlook and Internet Explorer. But if Windows was more like this phone, it wouldn’t have image and reputation problems.
No, this phone is more like Zune HD, which is smooth and sleek. There’s room for games and music and video. There’s also XBox Live integration – you can tinker with your avatar on your phone. Plus, you can update social networks like Facebook directly from your phone. No need to wait for apps to be developed (with apologies to my husband, an iPhone app developer).
Cupertino-based company rumored to be launching mobile ad network.
Apple has informed iPhone/iPod Touch application developers that they can’t include location-based advertising within their apps. The move has intensified rumors that Apple is planning to launch its own mobile advertising network.
Google clearly seems to be the target here. Google recently acquired AdMob, one of the most popular mobile ad networks. Will Google “retaliate” by closing down options for Android developers? It doesn’t seem like that type of policy would match their m.o. What’s more, by owning AdMob, it’s difficult to see why they would feel threatened by other competitors.
Google goes after Apple’s iPhone with new Android software update for Nexus One.
Google is competing with Apple head on by adding “pinch-to-zoom” functionality to its new Nexus One phone. One of the biggest complaints after launching the device was that it lacked multitouch but a new software update answers that complaint.
Other updates included in the software refresh:
Google Goggles: Allows image search using the camera on Nexus One. This app will be available directly from the device after the software update is downloaded. It can be found in the All Apps menu.
If you have an AdWords campaign set up to reach searchers using Google’s mobile search, you’ve got a new feature to enhance your efforts. Google is enabling click-to-call phone numbers in the ads that appear on mobile web browsers.
Smartphones allow users to click on phone numbers and a call is automatically generated. If a smartphone user is searching for a local pizza place on their mobile device, then they can now simply click on the phone number and order up their favorite pie.
